Prep Basketball BOYS : Outside Shooting Lifts Crespi to 70-67 Win Over Tough Alemany

Crespi High School’s basketball team, which has no starter taller than 6-3, must hit its outside shots to win games in the Del Rey League.

Last Wednesday against Loyola, the Celts had their worst shooting night of the season and lost. Friday night before a jam-packed crowd at Crespi, the Celts nailed 60% of their shots, most from 15 feet and beyond, and defeated the Alemany Indians, 70-67.

The Celts, who are 3-1 in the league and 8-6 overall, made 28 of 47 shots from the field to offset the Indians, who connected on 26 of 51 shots.

Crespi had shot just 38% in their 45-43 overtime loss to Loyola. A similar performance against the Indians, who are 2-1 in the league and 12-4 overall, would have been disaster for the Celts, according to Crespi Coach Paul Muff.

“It would have been difficult to win the league if we had lost at home,” Muff said. “It was very important because if we had lost (Alemany) would have been two games up on us.”

Brian Capp, who made 12 of 15 shots, led Crespi with 27 points, including 20 in the second half.

The Celts held a 66-65 lead with 33 seconds left before Jon Kirchner and Capp made two free throws each to clinch the victory.

David Djolakian, Alemany’s 6-6 senior forward, was practically unstoppable in the first half, making 10 of 12 shots and scoring 23 points.

Djolakian’s bad ankle acted up in the second half, however, and he took just one shot. He left the game with 1:37 left after totaling 25 points.

The Celts played man-to-man defense on Djolakian in the first hal. But, said Muff, “He hurt us so much.”

Crespi went to a zone defense in the second half. The Celts kept the ball away from Djolakian, but couldn’t stop James Moses, Alemany’s 6-3 freshman.

Moses, who had just two points in the first half, scored 18 in the second to keep the game close.

The Celts trailed 22-17 after the first quarter, but took a 36-35 lead at the half. They increased that to 52-48 after three, but never could shake the Indians.

Crespi guard Joe Campanella added 17, while Kirchner had 13.

Simi Valley 47, Camarillo 46 Simi Valley High hit 10 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to score an upset victory over Marmonte League rival Camarillo at Camarillo.

The Pioneers, now 1-1 in league and 7-5 overall, trailed through most of the game but tied it at 39-39 with 4:27 remaining in the game. Forward Sean Harrigan stole the ball from Scorpion Mitch Parrott and fed center Mark Robinson for an easy layup.

Robinson, who finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, both game highs, hit two free throws to give Simi Valley the lead at 43-41 with 2:23 left. Camarillo shaved the difference to one at 43-42 but Pioneer guard Christian Aurand hit both ends of a one-and-one situation to pull his team away for good at 45-42 with 33 seconds left.

Aurand had 10 points on the night.

All-Southern Section guard Steve Banales led Camarillo with 17 points. Teammate Phil Hahn chipped in with ten points and Parrott added nine. The Scorpions fell to 1-1 in league and 9-4 overall.

Both teams resume Marmonte League action Wednesday. Simi Valley will host Channel Island and Camarillo will travel to Newbury Park. Centennial 63, Harvard 32 Visiting Centennial jumped out to an 18-5 first-quarter lead and coasted to an easy victory over hapless Harvard in the Pioneer League opener for both teams.

The Apaches were led in scoring by Larry Richardson, who had 14 points. Kenzie Scott and Arnold Wolfe had 12 points each for the winners.